Protecting Public Health

While Brownfields generally are considered sites that pose no or limited health risks to communities, many have contamination that requires some form of cleanup, cap and engineering or institutional controls that restrict land use to prevent environmental or human exposures. In addition, in many communities, brownfields may have broader health impacts of concern to the community too, including

Safety. Abandoned and derelict structures, open foundations,
other infrastructure or equipment that may be compromised due
to lack of maintenance, vandalism, deterioration, controlled substance
contaminated sites (i.e., methamphetamine labs), or abandoned
mine sites may all pose safety risks.

Social and economic factors. Blight, crime, vagrancy,
reduced social capital or community 'connectedness', reductions
in the local government tax base, and private property values
that may reduce social services are all social and economic problems
sometimes created by brownfields.

Environmental health. Potential environmental dangers
can be biological, physical, or chemical, and can be the result
of site contamination, groundwater impacts,
surface runoff, migration of contaminants, or wastes dumped on
site.

Communities concerned about any potential impact of brownfields on public health may want to work with their local, state or tribal health agency as part of their brownfield program activities.

Partners

For information on the activities of EPA partners and community organizations working to improve public health as part of brownfields assessment, cleanup and redevelopment, please see the following links:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
Communities and state and local health agencies can seek information or request technical support and assistance from ATSDR staff and their contractors on risk assessment and risk communication; health assessments and health consultations; and
other technical support through the ATSDR.

American Planning Association (APA)
Resources to support collaboration between land use and transportation planners and public health officials on issues of shared concern. For additional resources, please see the Research section.

Environmental Law Institute (ELI)
For general information about ELI, please visit: http://www.eli.orgThe Brownfields Center of ELI
assembles valuable information for communities regarding assessment and cleanup of brownfields, as well as opportunities for public
health improvements. For more information about these and other activities, please visit: http://www.brownfieldscenter.org/small/about.shtml

The Waste and Cleanup Risk Assessment site provides information about EPA's waste and cleanup
risk assessment programs. In addition, the site contains a risk assessment glossary, localized information for all EPA Regions, and
other general-interest Risk Assessment information.

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a tool for local communities and state and tribal governments to create healthy communities. For more information, please see the following:

The Healthy Development Measurement Tool (HDMT) was developed by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section to help communities and other stakeholders consider how development decisions may have impacts on health. To get background on the health impact assessment process or copies of this tool, visit this website.

Design for Brownfield Redevelopment and Land Revitalization

Improving Public Health

Brownfield assessment and cleanup activities protect public health by
removing and reducing contaminant exposures and public health threats.
Communities may also want to plan how reuse, redevelopment and land
revitalization can improve public health. Design choices that create or
expand parks, bike trails or recreational areas can improve the
environment and increase physical activity or additional of a supermarket
or farmer's market can improve access to healthy food where those
amenities may not be available. A redevelopment plan that adds a community
health center, pharmacy, other healthcare service provider as part of
redevelopment can increasing access to health care services in brownfield
communities.